Aberdeenshire Council has awarded a contract for stabilisation works at Stonehaven’s Bervie Braes, meaning work should start this month.

West Midlands firm Forkers Limited has secured the £2.4 million contract and work is expected to be complete by the end of September.

Councillors decided recently to move forward with the project and gave support for a revised slope remediation scheme, developed within the £3m budget allocated by the Scottish Government and Aberdeenshire Council.

It includes drainage works to remove the ground and surface water identified as a main contributing factor to slope instability, and soil nailing to those areas at greatest risk.

As with all construction projects, both the design and implementation phases of the works will be covered by industry standard insurance and indemnity clauses which transfer appropriate risk to the designer and contractor for these phases of the works.

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A letter has previously been sent to affected residents explaining the details of the new scheme. A further letter will be sent identifying the exact areas which will be soil nailed under the contract.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter Argyle, said: "We are delighted that work is about to take place which will reduce the threat of future landslips affecting the properties at the bottom of the slope and create a safer environment for those living there.

"Although this has been a lengthy process, it’s imperative that the council protects its financial position while offering the best solution to Stonehaven."

Vice chair Jill Webster said: "We recognise this has been a difficult process to solve a difficult problem, but we can now look forward to seeing this scheme progress."

The works include:

• Draining surface water from the road which runs across the slope via a new drainage system and outfall drain laid to the River Carron

• Installing a new drainage system to reduce groundwater levels on the slope with inclined drains, collection channel and new enlarged outfall to the Harbour

• Soil nailing approximately 55% of the slope but covering those critical areas identified as being at greatest risk of failure

• Reinstating vegetation on the slope

The installation of the new drain to the Harbour will require the temporary closure of some sections of roads leading to the Cowgate and Castle Square and further details of timings and diversions will follow in due course.

(GK)